Jack chain



June15, 1965 R15-ULM "5,188,795

JACK CHAIN Original Filed Nov. 13, 1962 INVENTORy L/ssELL K. ULM

3,183,795 JAQK CHAEN Rnsseli I. Uhn, Butler, End., assigner toUniversali Tool d: Stamping Company, luc., Butler, ind., a corporationof Indiana Original application Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 236,91S. Dividedand this application im. 23, 196e, Ser. No.

5 Claims. (Cl. 59-91) y'This invention relates to an improved chainadapted particularly 'for use in connection with vehicle jacks and ofsuch nature as `to be capable of quick length ladjustment to suit heightrequirements of .the lifting means of the jack with respect to thebumper or other vehicle part to be engaged by the chain.

The present invention constitutes a division out of applicati-on SerialNo. 236,918, filed November 13, 1962.

A yfurther object of this invention is the provision of a strong,sturdy, exible Ichain comprising a plurality of `metal links which arepivotally connected together so that the curvature of the chain can beadjusted to suit length conditions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be app-arent duringthe course o-f the following detailed description.

In the accompany-ing drawing forming a part of this specification andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding par-tsthroughout the several views:

vFIGURE l is a plan view of the link type chain.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the chain sho-wn in FIGURE l; thedot-and-dash line showing the manner in which the links can be adjustedwhen desired to be placed out of the Way to suit length conditions inconnection with the appliance with which the chain is to be used.

'FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional v-iew taken through the chainsubstantially on the line 3 3 of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on theline 4-4 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse crosssection view taken through one of thepintle or pivot hinges adapted to connect adjacent links; the View beingtaken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-6of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View of .one of the links of the chain takenfrom the under side thereof.

In the drawing, the letter A may generally designate the chain. It is ofa type intended to be used with a jack structure Such as Iset -forth inUnited States application Serial No, 236,918, tiled November 13, 1962.

The .articulated chain structure A is formed of a plurality of links 95.They are preferably termed of rigid metal and each includes relativelydivergent side walls 96 shown in FIG. 6 connected by an integralbridging narrow outer 4wall 97 shown in FlG. 4. The walls 96 extendbeyond the side edges of the connecting wall 97 yand at these loc-ationslthey are Iapertured at 99 to receive hinge pins litt) which connect thevarious links in pivoted relation, one to the other. The pins 190 haveheads lll at one end and at the other end they are peened at 162 andrest against washers 163. lf desired, washers may be placed at both endsof the pins 1&9 at each outer side of the walls 96. Due to the relativeslope of the walls 96, links 95 can be conveniently interfitted, as issho'wn in FIG. 6, to provide a very compact and economically fabricatedstructure. The pins dit@ are uniformly spaced, and are in parallelism,so that they will accurately lit into a lift retainer such as set forthin United States application Serial No. 236,918, tiled November 13,1962. This lift retainer has a plurality of YUnited States Patent O MPatented lune l5, i965 sockets adapted to receive a plurality of thepins 160. To that end the links form a chain channel entirely open atthe bottom of the chain throughout its length with no obstructions toinsertion of the lift retainer and its adjustment along .the channelthroughout lthe length of the chain. Ilf desired friction pads 1&4 maybe att-ached on the outer surfaces of the cross walls 97 4to preventmarring of bumpers and other vehicle parts with which the chain may comein contact during a lift-ing operation.

The .chain structure at its lower end is provided with a bumper orvehicle frame engaging hook 106 having top ears 167, apertured topivotally receive the lowermost pin ltla of the lowermost link. The hookside walls are divergently `flared as :sh-own in FIG. 1. The end 1418 ishooked for engagement beneath -a Vehicle frame or bumper.

It will be note'd that the parts of the chain A are of rigid stampedmetal with the exception of the metal hinge pins, and t-he cushioningpads 104. It will be noted that the plane of the `connecting wall 97 ofeach link is at an angle olf 9() degrees with respect to the planes ofthe side walls 96. The ends of the walls 96 extend alpprecialbly beyondthe Ifore and aft edges of the cross walls 97 in order that the chainlinks can curve to an outof-the-way position as is shown in dot-and-dashlines in FIG. 2. It will also be noted that the bottom surface of thebridging walls 97 lie in a plane appreciably spaced from the 4hinge pins10) to facilitate mounting of the hinge pins and link upon a liftretainer of the jack structure with ,which this chain is adapted to beused, such as set forth in application Serial No. 236,918, filedNovem-ber 13, 1962.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention shown, Without departing from the spirit ofinvention or scope of thev claims.

I 'cl-aim:

1. As an article of manufacture a vehicle lifting chain comprising aplurality of pivotally connected links each having a pair off spacedside walls and a bridging wall connected to the outer margins olf theside walls at th front part of the chain, said side walls being beingapertured at each end, and pins extending through said aperturescrosswise of the length of the chain and pivotally connecting the linkstogether, said side walls of each link being rela-tively divergent fromend to end to such a degree that the side wall-s of the link at thecloses-t end spacing of its walls will fit into and 'between the wallsof an adjacent link at i-ts widest `spacing of said side walls.

2. A jack chain as described in .claim 1 in which the bridging wall ofeach link is relatively narrow compared lto the length of the side wallsso that the side margins of the bridging wall of each link terminateapprecia-bly short of the pins which connect adjacent links together.

3. The jack chain described in claim 11 in which the side walls belowthe cross walls define a channel which is entirely open at the bottom ofthe chain and unobstructed Ifor attachment of .a lift retainer with theexception of said cross pins onto which a lift retainer is adapted to behooked.

4. The chain described in claim 1 in which the end link of the chainwhose side walls are endwise spaced at their greatest width has a hookpivotally connected thereto.

5. As an article of manufacture a vehicle jack chain comprising aplurality of 'pivotally connected links each comprising a pair of spacedside walls and an integral bridging wall connected to the louter marginslof the side walls at lthe front of the chain, said side walls beingapertured at each end at loca-tions entirely beyond the marginal edgesof the cross walls, and uniformly spaced pins extending through saidaperture crosswise of the length of the chain and pivotally connectingthe links together, said links when in line delininga channel Vwhich isentirely open at the rear thereof opposite said cpo-ss walls with Y theexception of said pins which lie and about midway of the depth of theIchannel throughout the, length of said channel. g A

llefexjellces,k Cite by Lthe lExvanin'er,

Roy 59-80 Wa-Chenheimer 59-80 'Cante 59-78 Cnlg 254-133 Stone` 59-78Schultz 254-134 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE A VEHICLE LIFTING CHAIN COMPRISING APLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LINKS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED SIDEWALLS AND BRIDGING WALL CONNECTED TO THE OUTER MARGINS OF THE SIDE WALLSAT THE FRONT PART OF THE CHAIN, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING APERTURED AT EACHEND, AND PINS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES CROSSWISE OF THE LENGTHOF THE CHAIN AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE LINKS TOGETHER, SAID SIDEWALLS OF EACH LINK BEING RELATIVELY DIVERGENT FROM END TO END TO SUCH A